Wooden tumbling barrel



June 15, 1948.

J. N. WALLACE WOODEN TUMBLING BARREL 7 I Filed on. so, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 Inventor Jase wk 1V- llzZ/a ae- June 15, 1948. J. N. WALLACE 2,443,283v

WOODEN TUMBLIN G BARREL Filed 001;. 30, 1946 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2; 7 5.. WU (M 22 f .L. f4. g 5;. 42

4 LL .54 4 '26 0 '40 34 v 52 5 V, 56 6 I 44 4 I Inventor 56 e5 J'osapb/V. M111 m Patented June 15, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WOODEN TUMBLING BARREL Joseph N. Wallace, Westviile, Conn.

Application October 30, 1946, Serial No. 706,763

7 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to novel and useful improvements in a tumbling barrel and more specifically pertains to an improved construction of such a device which is particularly adapted for long life in industrial use.

The principal objects of the invention reside in providing a tumbling barrel which is particularly adapted for inexpensive construction, extremely long life and ready construction from plentiful material, for tumbling and shaking together a plurality of industrial objects such as small castings or the like for polishing and cleaning the same.

Additional objects of the invention envision the construction of a tumbling barrel which may be satisfactorily constructed or fashioned from small wooden blocks into a rigid, durable and reliable construction; wherein novel means are provided for assembling the wooden blocks into staves and then uniting these staves into a barrel; wherein improved means are provided for maintaining and reinforcing the staves in their assembled position; wherein novel door means are provided for obtaining access to the interior of the device; wherein eflicient sealing means are provided for insuring a leak-proof opening about the door panel of the device; and wherein novel means are provided for supporting the barrel for axial rotation in accordance with conventional usage of this art.

These, together with various ancillary objects of the invention are obtained by the apparatus set forth in the accompanying drawings, where-- in:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating the manner of mounting and operating a rotating barrel in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the barrel being taken substantially upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view being taken substantially upon the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detailed view in vertical section being taken substantially upon the line 44 of Figure 2; and,

Figure 5 is a detailed view, similar to Figure 3, but showing a modified fastening means for the cover of the device.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the several views, Ill denotes generally the tumbling barrel forming the subject matter of this invention, which as shown, is rotatably supported upon a pair of standards I2 of any suitable construction, and is conveniently driven by means of a belt I 4 or the like, from a driving pulley l6 mounted on a rotating driving shaft l8, this being a known and conventional form of driving means for tumbling barrels. As shown in Figure 1, it is contemplated that a plurality of barrels l0 may be disposed in end-to-end axial alignment, with their supporting axles journalled for rotation in common bearing boxes 20 carried by the upper end of the standards l2, it being understood that a single bearing box will accommodate in endto-end alignment the co-axial supporting axles of a pair of adjacent barrels It.

In accordance with the dictates of this invention, as shown best in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the barrel is formed by a pair of preferably cast-iron end plates 22 of any suitable configuration, it being noted that in the form chosen for purposes of illustration of the principles of the invention, the end plates are depicted as octagonal in shape. The pair of end plates are provided with axially extending shafts 24 constituting axles for supporting the barrel, these shafts being journalled in the bearing boxes. Each of the end plates 22 is further provided with laterally extending flanges 26 which form a periphery which as shown in Figure 2, is octagonal in shape, although as above mentioned, these flanges may define an external surface of any desired or suitable contour.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the end plates 22 are enclosed about their peripheral surface upon the fianges 26, with a plurality of wood-'- en staves '28, and a further stave 30 constituting a door for a purpose to be subsequently set forth. As will readily be seen by reference to Figure 4, each of the staves 28 is formed by a plurality of wooden blocks 32 disposed in side-by-side relation and preferably secured to each other as by glueing under pressure or the like, and being further rigidly united by a pair of longitudinally extending reinforcing members 34, preferably in the form of steel bars or the like which are recessed in longitudinal grooves 36, likewise extending the full length of the staves 28. Suitable bolts and nuts 36 are provided for detachably securing the staves to the lateral flanges 26 of the end plates 22.

I desire at this point, to call particular attention to the fact that the original wooden blocks 32 are so disposed, that the grain therein extends radially outward from the center of rotation of the barrel, whereby all the wear taken by the inner surfaces of the blocks, will be upon the ends of the grain of the blocks, thereby vastly increasing the life thereof. It has been found by experiment that when the blocks are so disposed, their life is thirty to thirty-five times as long as when they are disposed with the wear occurring lengthwise of the grain of the wood.

In order to provide greater rigidity between the adjacent staves, there is provided a keying or a splined connection between the conterminous edges of seven of the staves forming the shaped barrel, and longitudinally extending flat strips 38 of wood or any other suitable material are imbedded in complementary grooves orcham nels 3B recessed into the conterminous edges of said staves. It will thus be seen that each of the staves 23 is rigidly attached by a 'key or spline throughout its entire length with an adjacent stave, thereby providing an extremely and durable device for the purpose intended.

Attention 'is now directed more particularly to Figures 1 and 3 showing the construction and mode-of attachment of the staves forming the door 3001 the device. This-stave 3H is-secured by suitable hinges 42 to one of the adjoining staves 28, and is provided with a hasp or other suitable locking means 444 for engagement with the other adjoining stave 28, in order to fasten or secure the door in place. In order to reinforce the contiguous edges of the staves ZB'Which abut upon the door 31], a strip 46, similar to the above mentioned splinestil, is secured-ma longitudinally'extending groove 48 in theedge of each of the'adjacent stave members 28, it'beingnoted that the outer 'edge of the strip 18 is disposed flush with the edge of the staves 28. This strip serves toreinforceand key together the plurality of lparallelly disposed individual blocks '32. A pair of similarikeys 45 are provided-in the juxtaposed edges 'of the .cover 3d for a :similar :purpose, while "a further reinforcing member in the tform of arstripfill is provided at theioutersurface and edges of the cover 30, to form a reinforcement andprevent splitting .or fracturing 'of the wooden blocks at this point of wear. i

From the foregoing, it will be readily seen that the hasp 46 may be released and the :cover 3!! opened at its hinges "42, whereupon access may be had to the interior of the barrel ill) for the purpose of charging the same with articles to be treated or removing finished articles therefrom. Preferably, a suitable sealing means is provided for further makings, tight .fit between the cover and the adjacent stave -28, and this sealing meansmay conveniently take the form of -a felt-strip 52 or the like secured to the adjacent edges of 'the staves 28 for juxtaposition to the edgesof-the cover 39.

Attention is next directed .to themodified form ofconstruction shown in Figure .5, wherein it Wi1l..be .-seen.that the cover member '30, which .is of. identical construction with that previously described, may be provided with detachable fastening means such as the wing nuts and bolts 54 .for attaching .the same to the flanges 26 -of the .end plates 22, the construction being otherwise identical with that previously set forth.

Since numerous modifications, falling within the scope of the principles of this invention will readily be clear tothose skilled in this art, the invention is .not .tolbe limited except in accordance with the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. Atumblingbarrel consisting :of a plurality of wooden staves joined edgewise and disposed in ,parallel relation about a longitudinal axis, means supporting said barrel for rotation upon said'longitudinal axis, said staves being assembled with-the end grain of the wood radially disposed relative to the center of rotation of the barrel,

and means for rotating said barrel, said staves being each composed of a plurality of blocks secured in sidewise alinement .and .a plurality of vreinforcing means extending; longitudinally of each stave and embedded in longitudinally extending external grooves therein.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said staves-are secured upon peripheral flanges of ends of saidbarrel.

3. A tumbling barrel consisting of a plurality of Wooden staves joined edgewise and disposed in parallel relation about a longitudinal axis, means supporting said .barrel for rotating upon said longitudinal axis, said staves being assembled with'the' end grain of'thewood r'adiallydisposed relative to the center of rotation-of the barrel, and'means for rotating said barrel; one

of said staves-being removable to-c0nstitutefl-a door for said barrel, and reinforcing strips=extending longitudinally of'eachedge-of saiddoor and recessed flush with the surface thereof.

--4; A'tumblin-gbarrel consisting ofa plurality of wooden staves joined edgewise and disposed in parallel. relation about a longitudinal axis," means supporting said barrel for rotation upon said longitudinal axis,. said staves being assembled with the end grain of the wood radially disposed relative to the centersof rotation rof the "barrel, means for rotatingsaid'barrel, each of said'staves being secured. 'to the :adjacent stave i by .a longitudinally extending spline seating in complementary groovesin conterrninous edges of said staves and extending the dength thereof.

5. .A tumbling :barrel including ::a .plurality of wooden rstaves joined edgewise, :each 'of said staves: consisting of a" plurality: of :blocks in sidewise alignment andhaving reinforcing and tying means extending through/each blockfi-and longitudinallyof eachstave, longitudinally extending reinforcing. strips secured to the: exteriorsurface of sa-id.-.staves. v

6.v A tumbling barrel including a plurality of staves, joined 1 edgewise; each of said .sstaves consisting of a plurality of blocks in sidewisealignment and having reinforcing and \tying :means extending through-each block and:longitudinally ofeach stave, said reinforcing-strips being. seated in longitudinal external grooves in said staves.

-7. .A tumbling .barrel including .a plurality of Wooden staves-joined edgewise each of-;said staves consisting .of .a.,plurality.of .lolocks in .sidewise alignment .and .havingreinforcing i and tying means extending through each block. and longitudinally of each stave, a longitudinallylextending fastening key engaging .the. conterminous edges of adjacent.stavesthroughout their length.

Jos P N. WALLACE.

REFERENCE-S CITED The following references are of record in the file of this ,patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS France ec. 27, 1924 

